Written Answers Thursday 17 January 2008

Scottish Executive

Ambulance Service

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the percentage change in the number of category A emergency call-outs has been in each of the last five years, broken down by Scottish Ambulance Service division.

Shona Robison: The Scottish Ambulance Service completed the roll-out of the priority-based dispatch system across mainland Scotland in March 2004, so 2004-05 is the first year in which category A demand and performance can be measured across Scotland. This information is collected by health board area and the tables set out the figures for comparing 2004-05 with 2005-06, 2005-06 with 2006-07 and 2006-07 with 2007 to 4 January 2008. The ambulance service does not operate priority-based dispatch on the islands, however, it is still possible to identify those calls which would have been classified as category A, life-threatening.

  

 NHS Board
2004-05 Category A Incidents
2005-06 Category A Incidents
Percentage Change (%)


 Argyll and Clyde
 8,851
 9,894
 +11.78


 Ayrshire and Arran
 9,077
 9,402
 +3.58


 Borders
 2,240
 2,625
 +17.19


 Dumfries and Galloway
 3,137
 3,294
 +5.00


 Fife
 8,233
 9,500
 +15.39


 Forth Valley
 5,180
 6,818
 +31.62


 Grampian
 10,298
 11,353
 +10.24


 Greater Glasgow
 25,741
 26,607
 +3.36


 Highland
 4,081
 4,663
 +14.26


 Lanarkshire
 12,798
 14,921
 +16.59


 Lothian
 18,315
 21,953
 +19.86


 Orkney
 150
 147
 -2.00


 Shetland
 180
 278
 +54.44


 Tayside
 8,726
 9,968
 +14.23


 Western Isles
 550
 621
 +12.91



  

 NHS Board
2005-06 Category A Incidents
2006-07 Category A Incidents
Percentage Change (%)


 Argyll and Clyde
 9,894
 9,965
 +0.72


 Ayrshire and Arran
 9,402
 8,428
 -10.36


 Borders
 2,625
 2,212
 -15.73


 Dumfries and Galloway
 3,294
 2,697
 -18.12


 Fife
 9,500
 8,006
 -15.73


 Forth Valley
 6,818
 5,886
 -13.67


 Grampian
 11,353
 10,153
 -10.57


 Greater Glasgow
 26,607
 26,369
 -0.89


 Highland
 4,663
 4,558
 -2.25


 Lanarkshire
 14,921
 13,774
 -7.69


 Lothian
 21,953
 19,250
 -12.31


 Orkney
 147
 145
 -1.36


 Shetland
 278
 251
 -9.71


 Tayside
 9,968
 8,640
 -13.32


 Western Isles
 621
 560
 -9.82



  

 NHS Board
2006-07 Category A Incidents
2007 to 4 Jan 2008 Category A Incidents
Percentage Change to Date (%)


 Argyll and Clyde
 9,965
 8,883
 -10.86


 Ayrshire and Arran
 8,428
 7,945
 -5.73


 Borders
 2,212
 2,178
 -1.54


 Dumfries and Galloway
 2,697
 2,728
 +1.15


 Fife
 8,006
 7,713
 -3.66


 Forth Valley
 5,886
 5,424
 -7.85


 Grampian
 10,153
 9,755
 -3.92


 Greater Glasgow
 26,369
 23,355
 -11.43


 Highland
 4,558
 4,550
 -0.18


 Lanarkshire
 13,774
 12,871
 -6.56


 Lothian
 19,250
 18,396
 -4.44


 Orkney
 145
 194
 +33.79


 Shetland
 251
 234
 -6.77


 Tayside
 8,640
 8,140
 -5.79


 Western Isles
 560
 462
 -17.50



  Note: *Information provided by the Scottish Ambulance Service.

  Direct year-on-year comparability is compromised as there was a re-classification of incident codes between category A and category B in 2006-07 and again in 2007 to 4 January 2008.

  The overall emergency demand on the Scottish Ambulance Service has increased every year over the requested period and this table sets out the emergency demand and percentage change.

  

 Year
 Emergency Demand
 Percentage Change on Previous Year


 2004-05
 332,474
 +3%


 2005-06
 354,974
 +7%


 2006-07
 397,553
 +12%


 2007 to 4 Jan 2008
 308,107
 -22% (to date)



  Note: *Information provided by the Scottish Ambulance Service.

Ambulance Service

Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take to alleviate any shortage of ambulance service cover in north-west Sutherland.

Shona Robison: The Scottish Ambulance Service’s budget allocation from the Scottish Government for 2007-08 was £177.8 million, an increase of 6% on the baseline allocation for 2006-07. It is for the ambulance service to decide how to use that funding in providing emergency ambulance services, air ambulance services and patient transport services for the people of Scotland.

  The staffing levels in north-west Sutherland reflect the levels of demand experienced in that area, however there have been challenges in meeting the staffing complements in both Bettyhill and Kinlochbervie ambulance stations over the past year.

  A new member of staff in Bettyhill came onto operational duty in mid-December 2007 taking the staff establishment there back up to its full complement. In Kinlochbervie, three out of five posts are currently filled and one successful candidate will be going to the Scottish Ambulance Service College in January 2008 to begin their training before being assigned to this station. The remaining vacancy has been re-advertised.

Animal Welfare

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has taken any action to move towards an export trade in carcases rather than live animals.

Richard Lochhead: No. However, the Scottish Government provides financial support to Quality Meat Scotland in its efforts to promote Scottish meat sales in key overseas markets.

Animal Welfare

John Scott (Ayr) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to introduce cost sharing for animal health and welfare for farmers.

Richard Lochhead: The sharing of costs for animal health and welfare between government and industry is not a new concept. Many activities supporting the Scottish Government’s animal health and welfare objectives have cost implications for both government and industry. Such costs are recognised in the development of policy and any specific proposals would, in line with normal Scottish Government practices, be subject to full consultation.

Antisocial Behaviour

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many antisocial behaviour orders were issued in Aberdeenshire during (a) 2003-04, (b) 2004-05, (c) 2005-06, (d) 2006-07 and (e) 2007-08.

Fergus Ewing: According to research on the use of civil antisocial behaviour orders (ASBOs) undertaken by DTZ Pieda and Heriot-Watt University, no ASBO were issued in Aberdeenshire in 2003-04 and 2004-05 and five were issued in 2005-06.

  Since this research has now reported, figures on the use of ASBOs for subsequent years are obtained directly from Aberdeenshire Council. According to their records there were five ASBOs issued in 2006-07 and one issued from April to September 2007.

  These figures include interim ASBOs that were later granted as full ASBOs (as well as those that were still in force as interim ASBOs at the end of the reporting period).

Bridges

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what consultation will be undertaken with the communities that will be directly affected by the construction of the new Forth Bridge.

Stewart Stevenson: Public consultation will form a key part of the statutory process going forward, regardless of which legislative route is chosen.

Bridges

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive for what modal use the new Forth Bridge is being designed; what the estimated user numbers are by the time it opens, and what percentage of users are expected to use public transport.

Stewart Stevenson: The new Forth Bridge is being designed as a replacement crossing which will have the capacity to sustain the current level of cross-Forth travel, while at the same time having the potential to support sustainable growth through alternative modes of transport. The new bridge will also allow for pedestrians and cyclists.

  A breakdown of the projected public and private transport trips is not available at this stage. This will be subject to more detailed modelling and assessment.

  As part of the Forth Replacement Crossing Study, the Transport Model for Scotland (TMfS) was used to compare the network conditions in 2005 with the forecast conditions in 2012, 2017 and 2022. The annual average daily total of vehicles crossing the Forth Road Bridge in 2006 was around 66,000. The projected figure for 2016 is around 76,000. This modelling was carried out before the Scottish Government’s decision to remove tolls from the Forth Road Bridge.

Bridges

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to support a tram line from Edinburgh Airport to Newbridge, Kirkliston, South Queensferry, the new Forth Bridge and Fife.

Stewart Stevenson: There are no current plans to extend Edinburgh’s tram line. The decision has been taken, however, to design the bridge deck with the width and strength capable of incorporating tram or light rail based systems in the future.

Bridges

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive why Option D for a bridge has been chosen when Forth Replacement Crossing Study - Report 5: Final Report states on page 17 that, in environmental terms, the bridge options do not perform as well as the tunnel options.

Stewart Stevenson: Environmental considerations are one of several key criteria considered. In reaching our decision to proceed with a cable-stayed bridge in corridor D we also considered cost; cost risk; operating restrictions; operating risk, and time to construct. It was concluded that the bridge option performed most strongly on five out of six key criteria.

  I refer you to the strategic environmental assessment and the appropriate assessment which are published online at www.forthreplacementcrossing.org, for further information relating to the potential environmental impacts of the proposed crossing options.

Bridges

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are any circumstances under which the existing Forth Road Bridge would be dismantled and what the cost would be of such an operation.

Stewart Stevenson: The studies currently being carried out by the Forth Estuary Transport Authority (FETA) will determine what role the Forth Road Bridge will be capable of playing in the future. It is not possible to speculate on how this issue will be resolved until FETA’s studies have been completed.

  An initial estimate of the cost of dismantling the Forth Road Bridge has been placed at £120 to £130 million in 2006 prices, excluding VAT.

Cancer

Alasdair Morgan (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it will take to improve the delivery of cancer treatment in Dumfries and Galloway.

Nicola Sturgeon: Over the past six years there has been a significant programme of investment in cancer care across the whole of Scotland.

  In particular, NHS Dumfries and Galloway has streamlined timed pathways for cancer and increased the level of resource focussed on ensuring that patients are actively managed from the point of urgent referral, through investigation, diagnosis and treatment.

  Better Together, NHS Scotland’s programme to improve patient experience of care is working to improve services for cancer patients and the Scottish Government is committed to publishing an updated cancer strategy by summer 2008.

Care of Elderly People

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how the use of anti-psychotic drugs in care homes for elderly people is audited and monitored.

Shona Robison: The National Care Standards for Care Homes for Older People require providers to have in place comprehensive policies, procedures and systems for ordering medication and for its safe storage and administration, and for the safe disposal of unused medicines. The standards also require a care home’s staff to be fully aware of the systems, and to be fully trained in how to manage each resident’s medication safely and in the way which suits them best.

  Providers are also required under the Regulation of Care (Requirements as to Care Services) (Scotland) Regulations 2002 to keep a record of any medicines for the use of residents which are kept on the care service premises, and details of any instances in which medication has been administered to a resident without the resident’s or their representative’s consent.

  The Care Commission is responsible for regulating providers against these requirements and has a wide range of sanctions available to it should a provider fail to meet any of the requirements.

Chief Scientific Adviser for Scotland

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how often the Chief Scientific Adviser has visited the Rothamsted Research centre and when she last visited the centre.

Richard Lochhead: The Chief Scientific Adviser for Scotland, Professor Anne Glover, has visited Rothamsted Research once, on 10 December 2007.

Child Protection

Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how the national Child Protection Line will be funded.

Adam Ingram: The tender for this national service was won last January by Essentia Group based in Glasgow. Operational costs paid to Essentia to date (after 10 months of service) amount to £29,100. We expect the operating costs for the first year of service to be around £35,000. A further cost of around £8,000 has been incurred for two tranches of bespoke training relating to the service. The operational costs for this service are met centrally by the Scottish Government.

Child Protection

Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many staff will be recruited to provide the national Child Protection Line and how they will be managed.

Adam Ingram: The tender for this service was won last January (2007) by Essentia Group based in Glasgow. Essentia run this service using a reserved bureau of 26 specialist staff within their staff complement of 400+ who work exclusively on the CPLine and other more specialist helplines such as Know the Score, Sexwise, Smokeline, CALM mental health service and Learndirect. All the Essentia staff within this reserved bureau are graduates and many have qualifications such as nursing, youth work, addiction work and similar. All the bureau staff have been trained in basic child protection and all have received one day of bespoke training and a further day of refresher training on the detailed operations of the CPLine. Essentia’s bureau staff do not provide phone-based child protection counselling as the CPLine is a gateway and not a counselling service.

  Essentia’s performance is managed through the contract and through their participation in the national CPLine Working Group.

Child Protection

Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what agencies, apart from local authority social work departments, will be involved with the national Child Protection Line.

Adam Ingram: The range of agencies involved with the CPLine are represented on the CPLine Working Group which consists of several Child Protection Committee (CPC) representatives, including social work and police. In addition, the working group includes representatives from ChildLine and from NHS24 as well as some out-of-hours social work representatives.

  The vast majority of calls referred forward so far by the CPLine have been to local authority social work departments although a proportion (less than 10% of all referrals) have been routed forward to services such as ParentLine and ChildLine.

Children with Disabilities

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many meetings the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning has had with disability groups since May 2007 to discuss the findings in Aiming High for Disabled Children: Better Support for Families .

Adam Ingram: The First Minister and the Minister for Children and Early Years met with representatives of For Scotland’s Disabled Children – a coalition including many of Scotland’s leading disability organisations – as well as families with disabled children on 11 January 2008, to discuss a range of issues around support for families.

Children with Disabilities

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whom the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning has met since May 2007 to discuss the findings in Aiming High for Disabled Children: Better Support for Families .

Adam Ingram: Support for families with disabled children falls within the remit of the Minister for Children and Early Years. The minister has met with a range of disability groups to discuss issues around support for families.

Children with Disabilities

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what meetings are planned between the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning and disability groups to discuss the findings in Aiming High for Disabled Children: Better Support for Families .

Adam Ingram: Following a meeting between the First Minister and the Minister for Children and Early Years and representatives of For Scotland’s Disabled Children – a coalition including many of Scotland’s leading disability organisations – as well as families with disabled children on 11 January 2008, further meetings are planned to discuss a range of issues around support for families.

Children with Disabilities

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on the timescale for the implementation of the recommendations in Aiming High for Disabled Children: Better Support for Families .

Adam Ingram: Aiming High for Disabled Children: Better Support for Families was launched by HM Treasury and the then Department for Education and Skills in May 2007. The document was accompanied by the announcement of an additional £340 million of investment in services to support families with disabled children, over the Comprehensive Spending Review Period 2007-08 to 2010-11.

Children with Disabilities

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning has had with UK ministers about the findings in Aiming High for Disabled Children: Better Support for Families .

Adam Ingram: Support for families with disabled children is a devolved matter. While cognisant of Aiming High for Disabled Children , in developing approaches to support for disabled children in Scotland ministers have not sought formal discussions with their UK counterparts.

Children with Disabilities

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning has had with UK ministers about how to implement the recommendations in Aiming High for Disabled Children: Better Support for Families .

Adam Ingram: Support for families with disabled children is a devolved matter. While cognisant of Aiming High for Disabled Children , in developing approaches to support for disabled children in Scotland ministers have not sought formal discussions with their UK counterparts. Similarly, UK ministers have not sought formal discussions with Scottish ministers.

Children with Disabilities

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much of the £34 million allocated to Scotland to invest in after-school and respite care for families with disabled children has been allocated to South Lanarkshire Council.

Adam Ingram: Consistent with the concordat with local government and in order to improve flexibility and reduce bureaucracy, resources flowing as consequential from the May 2007 announcement of £340 million to support disabled children in England have been rolled into the main Scottish local government settlement and will not be ring-fenced.

Communities

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-6928 by Fergus Ewing on 7 December 2007, exactly how much of the Safer Communities budget which relates to drugs misuse will transfer to NHS boards in each year from 2008-09 to 2010-11.

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-6928 by Fergus Ewing on 7 December 2007, when monies will transfer from the Safer Communities budget to NHS boards.

Fergus Ewing: We intend to allocate the majority of resources in the Drugs Misuse budget within the Justice portfolio for the period 2008-09 to 2010-11 to health boards to fund drug treatment and rehabilitation services, with a small amount being retained to fund centrally determined projects. A decision on the breakdown of funding will be made following parliamentary approval of the budget, and monies for 2008-9 will be released to health boards at the beginning of the 2008-09 financial year.

Communities Scotland

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when the consultation document on the future of Communities Scotland will be made available.

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the consultation on the future of Communities Scotland will include consideration of the regulation of housing providers.

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive in what ways the Local Government and Communities Committee will be included in the consultation on the future of Communities Scotland.

Stewart Maxwell: Following consultation with COSLA last year, the Scottish Government announced to Parliament on 31 October 2007 its decision to abolish Communities Scotland. The discussion document Firm Foundations: The Future of Housing in Scotland refers to this and sets out our plans to put in place interim arrangements to ensure that the regulatory function currently discharged by Communities Scotland will continue to operate at arms length from ministers. A standalone agency will be established to fulfil this role.

  The remaining housing and regeneration functions of Communities Scotland will transfer into the core Scottish Government, with the exception of the local community regeneration role which will be discontinued.

Communities Scotland

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the consultation on the future of Communities Scotland will include consideration of the method of allocation of funding for housing.

Stewart Maxwell: Following consultation with COSLA last year, the Scottish Government announced to Parliament on 31 October 2007 its decision to abolish Communities Scotland. The discussion document Firm Foundations: The Future of Housing in Scotland  refers to this. It also sets out proposals for allocating government subsidy of social housing through a series of large-scale competitions.

Community Planning Partnerships

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive which of the responsibilities of community planning partnerships will not be covered by single outcome agreements.

John Swinney: The details of the coverage of single outcome agreements are being discussed with local government as part of the continuing work on the implementation of the concordat.

  Local authorities will be discussing the scope and content of their outcome agreements with their community planning partners in due course.

Community Planning Partnerships

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many meetings there have been with NHS boards to discuss those responsibilities of community planning partnerships not covered by single outcome agreements.

John Swinney: The health directorates meet monthly with NHS chairs and chief executives respectively. The meetings with each in November included discussion of their responsibilities, in the context of the recent budget.

Community Planning Partnerships

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive which of its directorates will be responsible for monitoring and evaluating the responsibilities of community planning partnerships not covered by single outcome agreements, in the event of Communities Scotland being abolished.

John Swinney: The Public Service Reform Directorate continues to have overall responsibility for Community Planning policy. However, responsibility for implementation of Community Planning sits with the Partnerships themselves, and it is up to individual Partnerships to decide on the detail of how this is done.

Community Planning Partnerships

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many additional civil servants will be needed to monitor and evaluate the responsibilities of community planning partnerships not covered by single outcome agreements, in the event of Communities Scotland being abolished.

John Swinney: It is not anticipated that any additional civil servants will be needed.

Community Planning Partnerships

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost will be of employing additional civil servants to monitor and evaluate the responsibilities of community planning partnerships not covered by single outcome agreements, in the event of Communities Scotland being abolished.

John Swinney: As it is not anticipated that any additional civil servants will be needed, there will be no additional cost.

Community Planning Partnerships

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive which of its directorates will be responsible for developing community engagement within community planning partnerships in the event of Communities Scotland being abolished.

John Swinney: The Public Service Reform Directorate continues to have overall responsibility for Community Planning policy. Housing and Regeneration Directorate will have responsibility for aspects of community engagement in relation to housing and regeneration.

  However, responsibility for implementation of Community Planning sits with the Partnerships themselves, and it is up to individual Partnerships to decide on the detail of how this is done.

  Lifelong Learning Directorate supports the implementation of Scottish Government policy for Community Learning and Development (CLD). CLD is delivered by local partners, through partnerships led by local authorities but actively involving the voluntary sector, colleges and others, and has a key role in building the capacity of communities to engage with Community Planning Partnerships.

Community Planning Partnerships

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many additional civil servants will be needed to develop community engagement within community planning partnerships in the event of Communities Scotland being abolished.

John Swinney: It is not anticipated that any additional civil servants will be needed.

Community Planning Partnerships

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost will be of employing additional civil servants to develop community engagement within community planning partnerships in the event of Communities Scotland being abolished.

John Swinney: As it is not anticipated that any additional civil servants will be needed, there will be no additional cost.

Community Planning Partnerships

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive which of its directorates will be responsible for the staff development of professionals employed in community engagement within community planning partnerships in the event of Communities Scotland being abolished.

John Swinney: The Public Service Reform Directorate continues to have overall responsibility for community planning policy. However, responsibility for implementation of community planning sits with the partnerships themselves, and it is up to individual partnerships to decide on the detail of how this is done.

  Housing and Regeneration Directorate will have responsibility for aspects of community engagement in relation to housing and regeneration.

  Lifelong Learning Directorate supports good practice in staff development of Community Learning and Development professionals and contributes to work led by Housing and Regeneration Directorate to support good practice in staff development for public service professionals to equip them for community engagement.

Community Planning Partnerships

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many additional civil servants will be needed to ensure the provision of staff development of professionals employed in community engagement within community planning partnerships in the event of Communities Scotland being abolished.

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many additional civil servants will be needed to ensure the training of members of the community involved in the boards of community planning partnerships in the event of Communities Scotland being abolished.

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many additional civil servants will be needed to ensure the co-ordination of the activities of community planning partnerships in the event of Communities Scotland being abolished.

John Swinney: It is not anticipated that any additional civil servants will be needed.

Community Planning Partnerships

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost will be of employing additional civil servants to ensure the provision of staff development of professionals employed in community engagement within community planning partnerships in the event of Communities Scotland being abolished.

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost will be of employing additional civil servants to ensure the co-ordination of the activities of community planning partnerships in the event of Communities Scotland being abolished.

John Swinney: As it is not anticipated that any additional civil servants will be needed, there will be no additional cost.

Community Planning Partnerships

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive which of its directorates will be responsible for training members of the community involved in the boards of community planning partnerships in the event of Communities Scotland being abolished.

John Swinney: The Public Service Reform Directorate continues to have overall responsibility for community planning policy. However, responsibility for implementation of community planning sits with the partnerships themselves, and it is up to individual partnerships to decide on the detail of how this is done.

  Lifelong Learning Directorate supports the implementation of Scottish Government policy for Community Learning and Development (CLD). CLD is delivered by local partners, through partnerships led by local authorities but actively involving the voluntary sector, colleges and others; it has a key role in building the capacity of communities to engage with CPPs, which includes, when appropriate, contributing to training members of the community involved in the boards of CPPs.

Community Planning Partnerships

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive which of its directorates will be responsible for co-ordinating the activities of community planning partnerships in the event of Communities Scotland being abolished.

John Swinney: The Public Service Reform Directorate continues to have overall responsibility for Community Planning policy. However responsibility for implementation of Community Planning sits with the Partnerships themselves, and it is up to individual Partnerships to decide on the detail of how this is done.

Community Planning Partnerships

James Kelly (Glasgow Rutherglen) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what input community and voluntary groups will have into the format and content of single outcome agreements.

John Swinney: We would expect each local authority to continue its duty to engage with community and voluntary groups as it thinks fit when setting priorities, deciding on local outcomes and planning services as part of the new arrangements.

Compulsory Purchase Orders

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-6614 by Stewart Stevenson on 3 December 2007, what the timescale is for its review of the compulsory purchase order process.

Stewart Stevenson: Ministers have asked officials to look at a range of issues regarding compulsory purchase orders. Officials are in the process of scoping out this work and no timescale has been set for its completion.

Compulsory Purchase Orders

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-6614 by Stewart Stevenson on 3 December 2007, which organisations and public bodies it will consult as part of its review of the compulsory purchase order process.

Stewart Stevenson: We will look to involve organisations and public bodies with an interest in the compulsory purchase order process, including local authorities, the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors and the Society of Local Authorities Lawyers and Administrators.

Council Tax

Bob Doris (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many houses in each local assessor area have been rebanded for council tax following a material increase in value and subsequent sale in each year since 1997.

John Swinney: The information requested is not held centrally. Information on the council tax banding of all domestic properties is held on the Scottish Assessors portal, however, it does not contain information at the level of detail requested.

Crofting

John Farquhar Munro (Ross, Skye and Inverness West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will clarify the scope and delivery mechanisms for the replacement for the Crofting Community Development Scheme announced by the Minister for Environment on 7 September 2007.

Richard Lochhead: An integral part of the success of the Crofting Community Development Scheme (CCDS) lay in the support provided locally for crofting communities to develop sound business plans. These plans, once approved by the Crofters Commission, allowed communities to access management incentive payments under the CCDS.

  Building on this success, the Crofters Commission will devote £100,000 per annum of government funding to provide development officers, who will assist crofting communities in drawing up their business plans. This will give such communities the opportunity to access funding under the new Scotland Rural Development Programme 2007-13 (SRDP), once the programme has been approved formally by the European Commission. Proposals may be submitted either to the relevant Regional Proposal Assessment Committee with a view to securing a Rural Development Contract (Axis 3),or else considered by the relevant Local Action Group under LEADER (Axis 4).

Crofting

John Farquhar Munro (Ross, Skye and Inverness West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what the budget for the Croft House Grant Scheme (a) was for 2006-07, (b) is for 2007-08 and (c) will be for 2008-09.

Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Budget does not distinguish between voted provision for the Crofting Building Grants and Loans Scheme (CBGLS) and the Croft House Grants Scheme (CHGS). The former Scheme closed on 31 December 2004. The latter scheme opened on 1 January 2005.

  Expenditure on croft house grants is demand-led and depends on the terms of the scheme and the number and value of applications. Gross provision for grant payments together with outturn on house grants provided under the schemes is set out in the following table. These amounts differ from, but are consistent with, those in the Scottish Budget: Spending Review 2007, which sets out net spending provision for both grants and loans after accounting for the repayment of loans under the CBGLS and predecessor schemes.

  

 CHGS Grant Payments Only
2006-07
(£ Million)
2007-08 
(£ Million)
2008-09 
(£ Million)


 Budget provision
 2.7
 3.0
 2.6


 Actual or forecast outturn
 0.9
 2.5
 2.6

Data Protection

Jackson Carlaw (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to protect sensitive data, following the loss of the personal details of 25 million people by HM Revenue and Customs (HRMC).

John Swinney: Our data protection and IT security policies are corporate within the Scottish Government and there are specific data transfer protocols for transferring particular types of information between specific bodies or systems. This is in line with the overall framework on information security laid down by Cabinet Office for the UK civil service.

  Following the HMRC incident, and along with other UK public bodies, we are currently conducting a review of data handling across the Scottish Government, its associated bodies and the wider public sector in Scotland. The review is considering the procedures currently in place for the protection of data, their consistency with government-wide standards and policies, and arrangements for ensuring that policies and procedures are being fully and correctly implemented. It will enable us to consider the need for any further measures and will allow us to consistently share best practice throughout the wider public sector.

Domestic Abuse

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what support it is giving to children and young people living with domestic violence.

Stewart Maxwell: The Scottish Government is committed to improving the lives of children and young people affected by domestic abuse. In November 2007, we announced the continuation of the National Children’s Services Women’s Aid Fund for the period 2008-09 to 2010-11. The Children’s Services Women’s Aid Fund supports the delivery of dedicated services for children and young people affected by domestic abuse, including the provision of support for children in refuge, or following on from their stay in refuge. The fund also supports the delivery of community-based outreach services for children affected by domestic abuse who have not lived in refuge.

  In addition, the government continues to support the work of the National Domestic Abuse Delivery Group. The Delivery Group was established last year to develop a three-year Delivery Plan which will present an integrated package of measures to improve outcomes for all children and young people in Scotland affected by domestic abuse. The group also oversees the implementation of the Getting it right Domestic Abuse Pathfinder which is testing new ways to improve agencies’ response to children and young people affected by domestic abuse.

Drug and Alcohol Misuse

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-5488 by Shona Robison on 12 November 2007, what proportion of the £10 million fund for drug and alcohol teams is made available specifically to support young people.

Shona Robison: The Scottish Government does not specify how resources should be distributed. Alcohol and Drug Action Teams make decisions on allocations to services, including those to support young people, based on local circumstances and identified need.

Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004

Hugh O'Donnell (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it has made in implementing each of the seven key points for action in HM Inspectorate of Education’s October 2007 report on the implementation of the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004.

Maureen Watt: The seven key points for action are for a wide range of agencies and organisations; the Scottish Government is not solely responsible for their implementation. We are currently considering our role in taking these actions forward.

  Under the new relationship between central and local government, the Scottish Government will work more closely with local government to develop policy in a genuinely collaborative way.

Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004

Hugh O'Donnell (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive by what dates each of the key points for action in HM Inspectorate of Education’s October 2007 report on the implementation of the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004 will be achieved.

Maureen Watt: Since the key points for action are for a wide range of agencies and organisations, it is not possible to be prescriptive about achievement dates.

Energy

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-5526 by Jim Mather on 12 November 2007, what further events will be organised or supported by Scottish Enterprise to promote the case for clean coal.

Jim Mather: Scottish Enterprise works closely with the Industrial and Power Association (IPA), whose membership comprises most of the Scottish companies’ active in this area. The IPA are organising a conference, Power Scotland 2008, being held in March of which Scottish Enterprise will be a sponsor. Clean coal will be one of the topics discussed at that conference. Scottish Enterprise and the IPA will also be involved in the All-Energy 2008 conference and exhibition in Aberdeen in May where, I understand, the IPA expects to organise a discussion on clean coal.

Enterprise

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the strategic forum for enterprise has met and, if so, what issues have been discussed.

Jim Mather: The first meeting of the Strategic Forum took place on 20 November 2007. The main issues discussed were the terms of reference of the Strategic Forum and an update on progress relating to the reform of the enterprise networks and VisitScotland.

Environment

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what level of reduction of carbon emissions in each year to 2010-11 would be consistent with achieving the climate change target of reducing emissions by 80% by 2050.

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage reduction in emissions by 2011 would be in line with the target of reducing emissions by 80% by 2050.

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will set a target for the lifetime of this administration for reducing carbon emissions and, if so, what that target will be.

Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Government’s consultation on the proposed Climate Change Bill will include a target of reducing emissions by 80% by 2050. The levels of reduction required in each year to 2011 have not yet been determined. We believe that independent, expert advice is needed on what the trajectory of emission reductions should be, as it is important that the process through which the trajectory is set is transparent and robust. Once such advice is available, we propose to set multi-year carbon budgets which would define the trajectory of emissions reductions, including the path of reduction to 2011.

  To this end, the UK Climate Change Bill makes provision for the devolved administrations to seek advice on targets they may set from the UK Committee on Climate Change. We plan to use this facility in the short term but the consultation will seek views on the significant issue of how we receive such advice in the longer term, once the proposed Scottish Climate Change Bill is commenced.

  We know that continuous progress on reducing emissions is essential. The Scottish Government believes that reporting an annual measure of progress within a multi-year budget process would be the best means of achieving this.

Environment

Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-7536 by Stewart Stevenson on 13 December 2007, whether it will implement in full the updated shadow price of carbon guidance issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 19 December 2007 in policy appraisal for all devolved policies and, if not, what account it will take of carbon in future policy appraisal.

Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-7536 by Stewart Stevenson on 13 December 2007, whether it will implement in full the updated shadow price of carbon guidance issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 19 December 2007 in appraisal for all devolved strategies, plans or programmes and, if not, what account it will take of carbon in developing future strategies, plans or programmes.

Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Government is developing guidance, incorporating the government’s new shadow price of carbon, to be used during the next budgetary period. This guidance will set out the circumstances under which the carbon impacts of future devolved strategies, plans, programmes and policies are appraised.

Environment

Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-7536 by Stewart Stevenson on 13 December 2007, under what circumstances it would not be considered appropriate to incorporate the monetary cost of carbon emissions into spending decisions using the government’s new shadow price of carbon guidance.

Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Government is committed to incorporating the monetary cost of carbon emissions into the policy assessment process using the government’s new shadow price of carbon guidance. It may not be feasible or appropriate to incorporate the monetary cost of carbon emissions in all circumstances if, for example, the impacts can not be reliably quantified or the policy proposal is not expected to have a significant carbon impact. We are developing guidance that will set out the circumstances under which the monetary costs of carbon emissions should be incorporated into the policy assessment process.

Equal Opportunities

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-6655 by John Swinney on 12 December 2007, why there is no person with a specific equal opportunities remit included in the group to oversee the implementation of single outcome agreements.

John Swinney: The remit of the group is to oversee the successful delivery of single outcome agreements between the Scottish Government and local authorities. One of the key purposes of the group is to set out the process of engagement with all policy communities across the Scottish Government and local government.

  This process will include the full consideration of equal opportunities related issues by policy communities to ensure that satisfactory progress is made towards achieving the government’s targets to increase social cohesion and solidarity across Scotland.

European Funding

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what happens to European funding for agriculture and environment programmes which is underspent at the end of a year.

Richard Lochhead: European funding is entirely offset by negative DEL so if the expenditure is lower than estimated in a particular year the offsetting European receipts will be reduced by a similar amount.

European Funding

John Scott (Ayr) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether food businesses are to be excluded from accessing the European Social Fund and, if so, what steps the Executive is taking to ensure that support for skills related to the retail meat and craft bakery sectors will continue to be available.

Jim Mather: The eligibility rules under the Scottish Rural Development Plan effectively preclude support for training for the food processing sector. This was not apparent when the Operational Programmes for the European Social Fund (ESF) were being negotiated with the European Commission. To avoid the risk of dual eligibility and potential double funding, ESF programmes specifically exclude such training. This was clearly set out in the draft programmes that went out to public consultation in October 2006.

  The Scottish Government is involved in on-going discussions with the food processing sector, geared towards addressing the issue of funding for food sector training. In particular, a discussion is taking place on a national food policy, demonstrating our commitment to the future of the Scottish food industry. This discussion will help identify key issues and future opportunities for production of food.

  With ministerial support, officials in the European Structural Funds Division are currently pursuing with the European Commission the case for adjusting the two Scottish ESF programmes to include the food sector. While this would not in itself guarantee European Social Fund support, it would allow projects from the food sector to compete for funding with other eligible projects.

Finance

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how it intends to distribute its share of any funds that it receives from the UK unclaimed assets scheme.

Jim Mather: The Dormant Bank and Building Societies Accounts Bill currently progressing through the UK Parliament provides that these funds should be distributed by the BIG Lottery Fund under priorities set by Scottish ministers.

  The Scottish Government will consult widely with the third sector early in the New Year to ensure that decisions on spending priorities are informed by the sector’s innovation, focus on solutions and strong connection to local communities.

Fisheries

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive how the introduction of real time closures has changed the fishing patterns of the Scottish fishing fleet, broken down by International Council for the Exploration of the Seas sub-area.

Richard Lochhead: I am pleased to report that the first notification of a real time closure of sea for spawning cod occurred on Saturday 12 January 2008. The closure occurred in the Norwegian sector, ICES area IVA. Further details can be accessed at www.scotland.gov.uk/realtimeclosures .

  While this has been the first time the results have been high enough to warrant a closure there are numerous examples suggesting that vessels are leaving grounds where high numbers of cod are known to be. This contributes to the same end as a closure, with fishing effort being directed away from high abundance areas.

Fisheries

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive how much it has allocated to the recruitment, training and deployment of observers monitoring discarding of fish on fishing boats in 2008.

Richard Lochhead: Fisheries Research Services (FRS) is responsible for collection of scientific data and has a well established routine observer scheme. A team of about 16 scientists performs this function under the FRS Schedule of Service (project MF01s). The projected spend for this project in the financial year 2008-09 is £174,731.

  This month I have established a new Conservation Credits steering group, including science, industry and environmental NGO experts, which will assess the implementation of supplementary observation programmes, in addition to the FRS work. In considering such programmes it will draw on experience with the onboard observer pilot which I launched in 2007, with a FIFG (Financial Instrument for Fisheries Guidance) grant of £35,800. It will also consider how best to build capacity to ensure the availability of suitably-qualified observers.

Fisheries

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive how much of the Scottish fishing fleet will be covered by on-board observation programmes to monitor discarding of fish in 2008.

Richard Lochhead: Fisheries Research Services (FRS) observes up to 140 trips each year. This includes up to 90 demersal, 26 pelagic and 24 nephrops vessels. Plans for 2008 are being drawn up in line with the European Commission’s Data Collection Regulation (DCR).

  In 2007, the Scottish Government funded an observer pilot, which placed independent observers on 10 fishing trips. The Scottish Government will complete a review of this pilot by the end of February and will determine, in consultation with a new Conservation Credits steering group which I have set up, the deployment of observers in 2008 which would supplement FRS observations. I refer the member to my reference to this steering group in the answer to question S3W-7734 on 17 January 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at Questions & Answers Search.

Fisheries

John Scott (Ayr) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to protect (a) common skate, (b) porbeagle and (c) tope in Scottish waters.

Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government believes that there is no significant directed fishery on any of these species by Scottish vessels. The best protection for these species will be to focus on the reduction of by-catch and discarding generally. The Scottish Government is committed to working with the industry to develop measures designed to reduce all discards in the coming year.

Fisheries

John Scott (Ayr) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to introduce closed areas for breeding spurdog.

Richard Lochhead: The agreement reached at December Council effectively prevents any targeted fishery of spurdog by any EU vessel in the north-east Atlantic. We believe this provides sufficient protection for the stock and therefore have no plans to introduce closed areas.

Flood Prevention

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Scottish Environment Protection Agency’s maps of coastal flood risk areas take account of known parameters of tidal surges and of differing climate change scenarios.

Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Environment Protection Agency used flood management industry standard techniques to indicate areas currently with a 0.5% or greater chance of flooding in any year. No specific account was taken of climate change or tidal surge although past surge residuals are embedded within the recorded tide-gauge data utilised within the methodology.

  Further information about the methodology is available at: http://www.sepa.org.uk/flooding/mapping/about.htm#how.

Flood Prevention

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what obligations local authorities are under to consult neighbouring local authorities when proposed developments are being considered that may potentially have implications for flooding in neighbouring local authorities’ areas.

Stewart Stevenson: Before granting planning permission for any development, a planning authority is required to consult adjoining planning authorities where it appears to the authority that the development is likely to affect land in the district of that authority.

Health

Ted Brocklebank (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to ensure that medical services are not compromised while hospital wards are closed due to outbreaks of the winter vomiting bug, norovirus.

Nicola Sturgeon: All NHS boards have plans and procedures in place to respond to outbreaks of viral illnesses in hospitals. These plans are intended to limit the spread and impact of infections such as norovirus, while ensuring as far as possible that the normal work of hospitals can continue safely. Guidance produced by Health Protection Scotland in 2004 is available to NHS boards. Boards’ control measures reflect that guidance.

  In line with the guidance and their own plans, boards may decide to close affected wards in a hospital temporarily, to control infection and limit its spread. Each board’s plans therefore include contingency arrangements to minimise the impact of temporary ward closures on hospital services and patient care. Present indications are that these infection control measures have not had a major impact on hospital services generally, although clearly there has been and continues to be some disruption for patients.

  We work closely with boards and Health Protection Scotland in their response to viral outbreaks such as norovirus and we are of course monitoring the current situation closely. We are far from complacent – controlling infection in hospitals is a key priority for the NHS and for this government. The expert view is that the relatively high prevalence of norovirus in Scotland this year reflects a recent increase throughout Europe.

Health

Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what capital funding it is making available to respond to increasing demands at local health centres.

Shona Robison: An announcement was made in October 2007 to confirm allocations of £23 million for the Primary and Community Care Premises Modernisation Programme (PCCPMP) in 2008-09 and this week this amount has been increased by a further £6.8 million.

  NHS boards also receive a general capital allocation which they deploy to meet all capital needs including those from primary care.

Health

Mike Rumbles (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether, in order to involve local councillors in decisions about health services in their areas, it will consider extending their role and powers.

Nicola Sturgeon: Senior local authority members already sit on health boards and participate fully in the role of the boards and in the decisions that they make.

  On 8 January I launched a consultation on proposals for a Local Healthcare Bill. The consultation is part of our drive to improve public and community involvement with NHS boards and looks at how existing processes could be strengthened to enhance public involvement, and asks for views on introducing direct elections to health boards. The role of local authority members is raised as part of the consultation.

Health

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when the NHS Quality Improvement Scotland integrated care pathways will be fully operational.

Shona Robison: NHS boards are to develop local Integrated Care Pathways by the end of 2008. These will be accredited during 2008 and 2009. Delivery will be incremental. Sensible flexibility will be allowed to take account of geographical, local and other circumstances.

  Responsibility for co-ordinating the national implementation, the assessment and accreditation rests with NHS Quality Improvement Scotland.

Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how children and adults with obesity problems will be assessed, monitored and directed to treatment.

Shona Robison: Treatment needs are assessed and managed on a case by case basis, including through discussion between the individual, their family and health professionals.

  Both the NICE and the SIGN obesity guidelines provide advice for GPs and health boards to assess the suitability of interventions.

  The Scottish Government will publish guidance on the appropriate treatment and referral pathways for patients with unhealthy weight and on the provision of weight loss services by the end of 2008.

  We shall publish further details of planned activities to tackle obesity through both treatment and preventative means in spring 2008.

Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether health checks for 40-year-olds, as proposed in the SNP manifesto, will include obesity assessments.

Shona Robison: We are currently examining how best to design these health checks to ensure the maximum benefits for patients, building on the success of the Keep Well programme. We shall announce decisions on implementation in due course.

Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what standardised method is used for assessing obesity.

Shona Robison: The most commonly used method of assessing obesity is body mass index (BMI). The GP Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) specifies using BMI to identify patients for practice obesity registers.

  BMI is calculated by dividing an individual’s weight in kilograms by their height in metres squared. In adults, obesity is defined as a BMI greater than or equal to 30. As children have different growth patterns at different stages of childhood, obesity in children is defined as having a BMI within the top 5% of the 1990 UK reference range for their age and sex.

Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what is being done to train health professionals to assess and treat obesity.

Shona Robison: Assessment and treatment of obesity is included in the training of health professionals. However, the Scottish Government is aware that there may be a need for further training opportunities for health professionals in this priority area, particularly in managing unhealthy weight in children. We shall publish further details of planned activities to tackle obesity through both treatment and preventative means in spring 2008.

Health

Michael Matheson (Falkirk West) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether patients suffering from dementia can be prescribed donepezil, rivastigmine and galantamine as treatment under the NHS.

Shona Robison: Donepezil, galantamine and rivastigmine are recommended as options for the treatment of moderate Alzheimer’s disease in NHS Scotland.

Healthy Living

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how it plans to ensure that its priorities regarding the Janny’s Hoose in Inverness and the other healthy living centres in the highlands and islands are met by local authorities.

Shona Robison: The Scottish Government provides funding to health boards and local government to support local services such as healthy living centres, in line with local needs and priorities.

  The new capacity building programme, run for the Scottish Government by the Scottish Community Development Centre, will promote greater understanding and improved collaboration between funders and providers of community health initiatives.

Healthy Living

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it will take to reverse the decline in response rates from 97% of schools in 1990 to 69% in 2006 and overall response rates from 87% in 1990 to 57% in 2006 in the Scottish Schools Adolescent Lifestyle and Substance Use Survey for the next survey in 2008.

Shona Robison: The apparent fall in response rates to the Scottish Schools Adolescent Lifestyle and Substance Use Survey (SALSUS) is against a background of a general downward trend in response rates to large surveys of this type. However, there have been some methodological changes to the survey design between 1990 and 2006 which may also explain part of the fall.

  Schools which refused to take part in the 2006 survey were asked their reasons for refusal. The main reason cited concerned existing survey commitments and commitments in the previous term.

  In planning for the 2008 survey, it is intended to establish better contacts with Education Officers and Health Improvement Officers in each area to try and improve commitment to the survey within local areas. Improved co-ordination with other Scottish Government funded surveys taking place in schools should help to reduce some of the burden on schools and encourage more to take part.

Higher Education

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how the Joint Future Thinking Taskforce on Universities will publish its conclusions and when it is expected to do so.

Fiona Hyslop: The taskforce intends to meet monthly during the first half of 2008 with a view to finalising its conclusions by the summer and determining how the taskforce will publish its conclusions.

Highlands and Islands Enterprise

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive under what circumstances it considers it appropriate for Highlands and Islands Enterprise to dispose of assets at less than open market value.

Jim Mather: Highlands and Islands Enterprise is required to dispose of assets in accordance with the Scottish Public Finance Manual which includes the provisions pertaining to disposal of assets at less than open market value.

Housing

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what its target is for building new houses for low cost home ownership from 2008-09 to 2010-11.

Stewart Maxwell: On the basis of the reforms proposed in Firm Foundations: the Future of Housing in Scotland , the Scottish Government expects that the increased budget for affordable housing of £1.5 billion in 2008-11 will deliver more new affordable homes – including social rented houses and houses for low cost home ownership – than planned for 2005-08.

  The LIFT initiative – our Low-cost Initiative for First-Time buyers – is a key part of the package of measures to revitalise Scotland’s housing set out in the Firm Foundations document. Through the Firm Foundations consultation process, we are seeking views on potential measures which could be incorporated within LIFT. The components of LIFT, alongside work to establish a Scottish Housing Support Fund to expand shared equity provision, will influence the future numbers of households which the government assists into low-cost home ownership.

Livestock

Jim Hume (South of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the confirmed case of bluetongue virus in a cow imported to England from Germany, what measures it will put in place urgently to prevent bluetongue from entering Scotland.

Richard Lochhead: A post-import testing regime has been in place in Scotland, and the rest of the UK, since the summer of 2006. It is this regime that identified the infected animal at Kirkcudbright, and allowed it to be dealt with swiftly and effectively, preventing the circulation of the bluetongue virus. This effective mechanism will remain in place.

  In addition, the Scottish Government is currently in discussion with stakeholders regarding the development of post-movement checks for animals coming into Scotland from the restricted zone in England, which are not currently covered by the post-import mechanism.

Livestock

Jim Hume (South of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the confirmed case of bluetongue virus in a cow imported to England from Germany, what representations it will make urgently to the European Commission for stricter adherence to export rules to prevent infected livestock being imported into bluetongue virus-free zones.

Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government fully supports the strong representations being made to the Commission by the UK and other member states regarding the urgent need to tighten up, and enforce, the rules on movements out of restricted zones. I wrote to Hilary Benn on this subject in December and the matter was discussed at a meeting of The Standing Committee on Food Chain and Animal Health (SCoFCAH) on the 10 January 2008. We will continue to monitor the situation closely.

Livestock

Jim Hume (South of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the confirmed case of bluetongue virus in a cow imported to England from Germany, whether it will consider introducing a vaccination programme to protect the livestock industry from the potential impact of bluetongue in Scotland.

Richard Lochhead: Whilst Scotland remains a bluetongue free area, European Commission legislation does not permit vaccination against bluetongue. The Scottish Government has had extensive discussions with industry on bluetongue vaccination and how it might be best utilised when it becomes available and will continue to keep the situation under review.

Local Government Concordat

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether local authorities will be informed about the format of single outcome agreements before they decide whether to agree to the terms of its concordat with COSLA.

John Swinney: COSLA is the representative voice of Scottish local government, and COSLA and the Scottish Government agreed the terms of the concordat in November 2007. The details of the single outcome agreements, including the format of the agreements, are being developed jointly with local government. However, and as with any agreement between two parties, an individual local authority must satisfy itself that it is content with the details of its single outcome agreement before signing up to it.

Local Government Concordat

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether local authorities will be informed about the reporting process for single outcome agreements before they decide whether to agree to the terms of its concordat with COSLA.

John Swinney: COSLA is the representative voice of Scottish local government, and COSLA and the Scottish Government agreed the terms of the concordat in November 2007. The details of the single outcome agreements, including the reporting process, are being developed jointly with local government. However, and as with any agreement between two parties, an individual local authority must satisfy itself that it is content with the details of its single outcome agreement before signing up to it.

Local Government Concordat

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether local authorities will be informed that ministers will report on progress of single outcome agreements to the Parliament and the Local Government and Communities Committee before they decide whether to agree to the terms of its concordat with COSLA.

John Swinney: COSLA is the representative voice of Scottish local government, and the Scottish Government and COSLA agreed the terms of the concordat in November 2007. The content and details of the single outcome agreements are being developed jointly with local government, and local authorities will be made aware of ministers’ obligations to the Parliament.

Local Government Concordat

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how the distribution of the capital funding element of the recent settlement with local authorities was arrived at.

John Swinney: The distribution of the capital funding element of the recent settlement with local authorities was arrived at in consultation with COSLA.

  For those grants rolled-up, where a distribution mechanism was previously used, this mechanism generally stays the same. Where a rolled-up grant was distributed on the basis of a bidding process, the grant has either been (i) distributed based on a new mechanism agreed with COSLA; (ii) distributed based on bids already committed to during the settlement e.g. Flood Prevention Grant, or (iii) has not yet been distributed but will be based on a mechanism agreed with local government through COSLA. The additional capital element was distributed based on the new supported borrowing mechanism as agreed with COSLA.

  Ring-fenced grants continue to be distributed as previously, unless otherwise agreed with COSLA.

Local Government Concordat

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what distribution methods applied to each element of the rolled-up grants distributed to local authorities for capital spending announced as part of the recent settlement with local government.

John Swinney: The position with regard to previously ring-fenced grants that have now been rolled up is that they have, as far as possible, continued to be allocated in the same way. Where a distribution mechanism was previously used, this mechanism stays the same unless otherwise agreed. Where a grant was distributed on the basis of a bidding process, the grant has either been (i) distributed based on a new mechanism agreed with COSLA; (ii) distributed based on bids already committed to during the settlement e.g. Flood Prevention Grant, or (iii) has not yet been distributed but will be based on a mechanism agreed with local government through COSLA. The additional capital element has been distributed based on the new supported borrowing mechanism as agreed with COSLA.

Local Government Funding

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what funding it will make available to each local authority in each of the next three financial years to support the responsibilities transferred to them under the recent review of the structures and functions of the enterprise networks.

Jim Mather: The transfer of responsibilities from the enterprise networks to local authorities will mean some reallocation of funds. The detail of this will be decided when the exact nature of the activity to be transferred is determined.

Maternity Services

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what its policy is on women who have suffered miscarriages being placed in maternity wards with women giving birth.

Shona Robison: The Scottish Government is committed to constantly improving care provision, and the Framework for Maternity Services in Scotland and Expert Group on Acute Maternity Services (EGAMS) set out clear ways for this to be achieved. Principle 3 of the framework states: there should be specific services for women with complications in early pregnancy.

  In addition, NHS Quality Improvement Scotland produced standards relating to Maternity Services in 2005. Standard 2b sets out essential criteria that it is expected will be met wherever this service is provided. Part of the criteria state that women who experience early pregnancy complications should be cared for in a dedicated area distinct from the general gynaecology or antenatal ward.

  NHS boards are responsible for determining maternity services in their area in the context of their own service strategies, provided these strategies are consistent with national policy and guidance.

  We expect NHS boards to consider the needs of this client group and plan/manage their care accordingly. Additionally, we expect NHS boards to have pathways of care in place which integrate physiological and physical care.

Maternity Services

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it issues any guidance to NHS boards in respect of women who have suffered miscarriages being placed in maternity wards with women giving birth.

Shona Robison: The Scottish Government is committed to constantly improving care provision, and the Framework for Maternity Services in Scotland and Expert Group on Acute Maternity Services (EGAMS) set out clear ways for this to be achieved. Principle 3 of the Framework states there should be specific services for women with complications in early pregnancy.

  In addition, NHS Quality Improvement Scotland (QIS) provided standards relating to Maternity Services in 2005, standard 2b states essential criteria that it is expected will be met in relation to early pregnancy complications. QIS have inspected every board against the maternity standards and published the results.

  NHS boards are responsible for determining maternity services in their area in the context of their own service strategies, provided these strategies are consistent with national policy and guidance.

Meat Industry

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what financial support it has provided to Quality Meat Scotland in each of the last three financial years.

Richard Lochhead: The following table shows details of assistance provided to Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) from the Scottish Government’s Marketing Development Scheme in each of the last three financial years.

  

 Year
 Detail
 Funding


 2005-06
Appointment of business manager - identification of new outlets for Scotch Lamb in France (Marketing Development Scheme).Appointment of marketing agent - promotion and development of new outlets for Scotch Beef and Scotch Lamb in Italy (Marketing Development Scheme).
£53,887
£25,000


 2006-07
 None
 


 2007-08
 Additional funding to enhance existing lamb marketing programme in response to foot and mouth disease.
£100,000



  In addition, as part of the £25 million support package for the industry announced in October 2007, QMS has been asked to develop proposals, in liaison with the wider industry, for the £1 million made available to promote the long-term resilience of the red meat sector.

  The Scottish Government is also contributing to several research and development projects in which QMS is involved either through providing resources (in money or kind) or as a contractor.

Mental Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in allocating a named mental health link person in every school and basic mental health training for all those looking after children and young people in care.

Shona Robison: We remain on target for delivery by the end of 2008. In some areas Primary Mental Health Care workers are already performing this role, while others are considering how best to fulfil the commitment objectives. A national event is planned for March this year to further aid and inform these local considerations.

  A training programme has been designed and implemented with over 500 people graduates so far. Attention continues on this important agenda.

Ministerial Meetings

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, following the commitment in letter reference 2007/0030929 of September 2007, when the Minister for Enterprise, Energy and Tourism will meet representatives of SAS International and myself as the local constituency MSP.

Jim Mather: My private office has contacted SAS International and a date for the meeting has been set for 19 February 2008.

NHS Hospitals

Paul Martin (Glasgow Springburn) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what income will be generated by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde as a result of the introduction of car parking charges at Stobhill Hospital and the Southern General Hospital.

Nicola Sturgeon: Car parking charges must not be introduced solely for the purpose of generating income. I have decided to introduce a maximum daily charge of £3, to be implemented without delay. I will also ask boards, as part of a review their schemes against the principles and criteria of the revised guidance on car parking charges, to provide me with information on the revenue raised to ensure that charges for people working at or visiting hospitals are appropriate.

NHS Hospitals

Stuart McMillan (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing will meet NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde to discuss the NHS board’s decision to press ahead with plans to abolish the community maternity units in Inverclyde Royal Hospital and the Vale of Leven Hospital despite one of the recommendations by the Independent Scrutiny Panel.

Ms Nicola Sturgeon: No decisions have been made. Any proposals the board makes to discontinue deliveries at the community maternity units at the IRH and the Vale must still be subject to comprehensive public consultation and, ultimately, my decision.

  I have been clear that I expect the board to take full account of the Independent Scrutiny Panel’s report in agreeing its service options for consultation.

NHS Prescriptions

John Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it was consulted on patients in Lanarkshire medical practices who receive Flomaxtra XL or Flomax MR having their medication changed to Tabphyn PR.

Shona Robison: Decisions on which medicines are included in local formularies are matters for NHS boards taking into account advice from the Scottish Medicines Consortium.

  Flomaxtra XL and Flomax MR are proprietary names for tamsulosin hydrochloride, a medicine used in the treatment of urinary retention. There are also a number of generic brands of this medicine, one of which is Tabphyn MR. Generic drugs are generally less expensive than the equivalent branded product and generic prescribing is encouraged in the NHS.

NHS Prescriptions

John Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the recommendation of NHS Lanarkshire to change patients’ medication to Tabphyn PR in its medical practices was subject to any detailed evaluation study or monitoring mechanisms.

Shona Robison: Any such change to a patient’s medication will be made by the clinician responsible for their care who will consider whether this is suitable for the patient.

  NHS Lanarkshire has advised that in this instance, each patient was informed of the change by letter from the GP practice providing an explanation of the proposed change and a contact phone number to allow the patient to ask any questions. GPs have also been asked to provide feedback to NHS Lanarkshire of any problems of the medication change.

Nuclear Power

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether Scottish ministers have had discussions with their UK counterparts on (a) how any nuclear power stations will be funded, (b) whether the UK Government will be investing any public money in new nuclear power and (c) whether the UK Government will match incentives offered to companies funding nuclear power stations with incentives for the renewables industry.

Jim Mather: We have had no discussions with UK ministers on any aspect of the development of new nuclear power stations in Scotland. However, we provided a full response to the UK Government’s consultation on nuclear power, which is available from the Scottish Parliament Information Centre. More generally we have made our position clear – Scotland does not want or need new nuclear power stations and therefore such discussions are not necessary.

Oil and Gas Industry

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive whether ministers will use their powers under the Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Amendment (No. 2) (Scotland) Regulations 2007 to call in the proposals from the UK Government to give permission for oil and gas exploration in the Moray Firth, given the possible impact of such proposals on the local dolphin population.

Richard Lochhead: The power to call in certain proposals introduced by the Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Amendment (No. 2) (Scotland) Regulations 2007 does not extend to the licensing of oil and gas explorations. The regulation of oil and gas exploration is a function reserved to the Secretary of State.

  On 21 December 2007, the UK Department of Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) announced a three-month public consultation on its assessment of the proposal for an exploration licence in the Moray Firth. BERR is required to have regard to representations made; Scottish Natural Heritage are currently considering BERR’s assessment of the proposal.

Post Offices

Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what outreach public services, such as advice on student finance and concessionary rail and bus travel, it is considering providing through Scotland’s network of urban and rural post offices.

John Swinney: The Scottish Government recognises the role that post offices can play in supporting small businesses and in providing a lifeline to communities in fragile or remote areas. In July 2007, I wrote to the President of COSLA noting the government’s wish to encourage local authorities and other service providers to become involved in examining the excellent examples of innovative practice we have already seen across Scotland in order to sustain or extend the range of post office coverage throughout Scotland. Whether this would involve councils considering revising existing service delivery plans in light of any emerging developments in service options from Royal Mail Group would remain an issue for local decision. Postal services are reserved to Westminster and the Scottish Government has limited scope for independent action.

  There are currently no plans to provide advice on student finance through Scotland’s network of urban and rural post offices. I am aware that some Post Offices act as agents for certain local authorities (Angus, Scottish Borders, Aberdeenshire, Perth and Kinross, Western Isles and Strathclyde Area Councils) and validate applications for National Entitlement Cards for Older People under the Scotland-Wide Concessionary Travel Scheme for Older and Disabled People. The contract is owned by the Improvement Service who act on behalf of the aforementioned local authorities.

Prescription Charges

Derek Brownlee (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost to it will be of the reduction in the costs of pre-payment prescription certificates and individual prescription charges in each year from 2008-09 to 2010-11.

Shona Robison: We have made provision in the Spending Review for costs of up to £20 million, £32 million and £45 million for the three financial years from 2008-09.

Public Services

Shirley-Anne Somerville (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it has made in considering a response to the Crerar Review into regulation, audit, inspection and complaints handling of public services in Scotland.

John Swinney: The Scottish Government has considered the Crerar Review and its recommendations carefully and has paid close attention to the comments made in the parliamentary debate on 3 October 2007. Government and Parliament have an opportunity here to make a real difference to the way services are provided, and so need to make sure action taken in response to the review is right and will lead to significant improvement. The government has today published a detailed response to the Crerar recommendations. The response will be sent to all those who contributed to the Crerar Review, and a copy has been made available on the government’s official website. The government has accepted most of the recommendations in the review, either in full or in principle, but has identified some recommendations where further work is required before a commitment can be given. To reach a view on these, and to turn the other recommendations into action, the government will work closely with the Parliament, with COSLA and with Audit Scotland, taking account of the views of other stakeholders - most notably those representing the public and service users. The government has established five fixed-term action groups to consider the recommendations in detail and provide ministers and the Parliament with proposals for improving the scrutiny and complaints handling landscape.

Public Transport

Alex Johnstone (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of any research on the potential impact on productivity which would result from the introduction of wi-fi on the Glasgow Queen Street to Edinburgh Waverley rail service.

Stewart Stevenson: The Glasgow to Edinburgh collaboration project recently commissioned research on seamless wireless connectivity on the main Glasgow to Edinburgh rail route. This research estimated the potential economic benefits from both the introduction of wi-fi and improved mobile phone reception.

Public Transport

Alex Johnstone (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of any plans by other transport operators to provide free wi-fi for passengers on key commuter services, following the recent announcements by National Express East Coast and Scottish Citylink.

Stewart Stevenson: We are aware other operators are progressing the development of free wi-fi services. For example Stagecoach East Scotland are planning to fit wi-fi on their Express bus services and Arriva on some of their rail routes.

Public Transport

Alex Johnstone (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive why it has not increased the Bus Service Operators Grant in line with the two pence rebate that operators in England received in October 2007.

Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Government will provide substantial funds to the bus industry of around £250 million each year. Each increase in fuel duty and its effect on the rate of Bus Service Operators Grant has to be looked at on an individual basis. Unfortunately, given the constraints of the current spending round, it has not been possible to increase Bus Service Operators Grant on this occasion.

Public Transport

Alex Johnstone (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to increase the Bus Service Operators Grant in April 2008 and, if so, by how much.

Stewart Stevenson: Each increase in fuel duty and its effect on the rate of Bus Service Operators Grant paid has to be looked at on an individual basis. If, as expected, fuel duty is increased in April 2008 then we will assess the situation at the time and make a decision based upon the Scottish Government’s strategic objectives and the funding available.

Renewable Energy

Alex Johnstone (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what financial support is available to householders wishing to install domestic micro-renewable energy devices.

Jim Mather: The Scottish Community and Householder Renewables Initiative (SCHRI) offers grants for the installation of renewable energy measures. Householders can obtain funding of 30% of the installed cost, up to a maximum of £4,000.

Renewable Energy

Alex Johnstone (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to increase the financial support available to householders wishing to install domestic micro-renewable energy devices.

Jim Mather: The Scottish Government is committed to promoting microgeneration, recognising its potential to provide a sustainable source of low carbon energy and to reduce carbon emissions. It will be part of a coherent approach to energy policy, recognising that promoting reduced energy consumption and promoting low carbon technologies are key to achieving sustainable economic growth.

  In our budget for Scotland we have made the commitment to triple funding to support community and microgeneration, which will include support for householders. I will announce our plans soon.

Renewable Energy

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-5670 by Jim Mather on 8 November 2007, when it will make a decision on the (a) Mark Hill, (b) Arecleoch, (c) Dersalloch, (d) Afton, and (e) Kyle wind farm applications under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989.

Jim Mather: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-5670 on 8 November 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at Questions & Answers Search .

Residential Care

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive why 11 enforcement notices were served by the Care Commission when it states that, of the 62 care homes involved in its Pressure for Change review, "in every care home we reviewed, we found serious failings in the standards of care".

Shona Robison: Under the Regulation of Care (Scotland) Act 2001 the Care Commission has a wide range of measures available to it where it sees the need for a care home to make improvements. It can make recommendations, place requirements on the care home or serve an improvement notice which details the required improvements that need to be made and the timescales for this. If the care home fails to make the improvements then, ultimately, the Care Commission can take steps to cancel the service’s registration.

  Decisions on what action to take if a service is not meeting the National Care Standards or the Regulations are an operational matter for the Care Commission. Any decisions made by the commission take account of all the relevant circumstances and are proportionate

  You can contact the Chief Executive at the following address:

  Ms Jacquie Roberts Chief Executive

  Scottish Commission for the Regulation of Care Compass House Riverside Drive Dundee DD1 4NY

  T: 01382 207100 E: Jacquie.roberts@carecommission.com.

Roads

James Kelly (Glasgow Rutherglen) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether a timetable has been set to complete the tender process for the M74 extension.

Stewart Stevenson: The final tender for the contract was submitted on 9 November 2007. A decision on the award will be made once the assessment of the tender is complete.

Roads

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance in relation to section 59 of the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984 has been issued to contractors responsible for maintaining trunk roads.

Stewart Stevenson: No specific guidance is issued to Trunk Road Operating Companies in relation to Section 59 of the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984, or Section 87 (powers of removal). The 3rd Generation Term Contract for Management and Maintenance of the Scottish Trunk Road Network, imposes a general obligation to carry out routine safety inspections and patrols at specified intervals to identify and remedy defects and hazards. A copy of the contract is on the Transport Scotland website, the section relating to unauthorised signs can be found at the following link:   http://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/uploads/documents/NorthWestUnit/Schedule8/C-S8P5-NW_Unit.pdf .

Roads

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether Transport Scotland uniformly enforces the provisions of section 59 of the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984 across the trunk road network.

Stewart Stevenson: Transport Scotland enforces the provisions of Section 59 of the Roads (Scotland) Act, which seeks to maintain safety for road users and pedestrians whilst reflecting local circumstances.

Roads

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many complaints have been registered by (a) individual members of the public and (b) organisations regarding the use of shop street advertising boards and fresh produce displays on trunk roads in each of the last 10 years, broken down by route.

Stewart Stevenson: Transport Scotland does not hold separate records for complaints by members of the public or representative organisations regarding the use of advertising and fresh produce displays broken down by route.

Roads

Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide details of the engineering works undertaken following the landslip on the A83 at the end of October 2007.

Stewart Stevenson: Remedial works, which included the placement of 200 tons of rock on the roadside embankment, have temporarily stabilised the road. Unstable material was removed from the landslip area above the road. Safety barriers have been erected and temporary traffic signals introduced to protect road users and the carriageway. Regular monitoring of the slopes above and below the road is being carried out by specialist staff. A topographical survey of the slopes has been undertaken, and ground investigations are currently being determined to assess the ground above and below the road for stability and drainage replacement works.

Roads

Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made towards removing the temporary traffic light on the A83 at the Rest and Be Thankful and whether it has committed extra expenditure to ensure that this removal can take place as quickly as possible.

Stewart Stevenson: A detailed topographical survey both above and below the road has been undertaken and this will be followed by detailed ground condition investigations. This work is essential to allow the design of the permanent measures to fully stabilise this section of road, improve drainage both within and adjacent to the road, and stabilise the ground affected by the landslip.

  It is not possible to confirm when the traffic lights will be removed because until the investigations are complete and fully assessed, the scale and cost of the improvement works will not be known.

Rural Development

John Farquhar Munro (Ross, Skye and Inverness West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-4391 by Richard Lochhead on 1 October 2007, whether it will place a copy of the lease to the Eilean Ban Trust in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre.

Stewart Stevenson: The Lease between the Scottish ministers and the Eilean Ban Trust is a matter of public record. I have arranged that a copy of the extract of the Lease, held by the Registers of Scotland, is placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 44400).

Schools

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive which parts of the "new guidance regarding proposals to close rural schools" referred to by the Minister for Children and Early Years in the Cumnock Chronicle on 12 December 2007, is new or differs from the Additional Guidance on Local Authority Proposals for the School Estate, including School Closures , issued in September 2004.

Maureen Watt: The guidance itself does not differ and the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning made that clear when she reissued it on 11 October 2007. What is new is the Cabinet Secretary’s covering letter to Education Conveners, which is available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 43920).

Schools

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether recommendations from HM Inspectorate of Education (HMIE) to ministers on the proposed closure of Glentrool and Lochearnhead primary schools were followed.

Maureen Watt: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-5512 on 7 November 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at Questions & Answers Search .

  In neither case did the HMIE advice, which is now in the public domain, contain recommendations to ministers.

Scottish Executive Finance

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-1356 by Richard Lochhead on 31 July 2007, whether it uses management accounts internally to monitor expenditure; whether such accounts are available to budget managers on a monthly basis or more frequently; whether any such accounts are at budget level 3 or 4 or both; whether such management accounts are monitored centrally by the strategic board and, if so, at what intervals, and whether the Executive considers that such management accounts are sufficient and accurate enough to allow effective in-year management of expenditure by budget holders and by the Executive as a whole.

Richard Lochhead: The budgets are monitored on a monthly basis from the end of the first quarter to the end of the financial year by reviewing the expenditure to date and the forecast outturn for the year. This is done at an appropriate level of detail at various levels of management including Director, Director General and Strategic Board. The Scottish Government has produced unqualified accounts for the last two years indicating that there has not been a breach of the Budget Act. In addition, the level of underspend has decreased each year which provides evidence that the budget monitoring is sufficient and accurate.

Scottish Executive Finance

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-1357 by Richard Lochhead on 23 July 2007, which budget heads at level 3 accounted for the overall underspends in (a) 2004-05, (b) 2005-06 and (c) 2006-07.

Richard Lochhead: 2004-05.

  Environmentally Sensitive Areas Scheme

  Rural Stewardship Scheme

  Rural Partnership Scheme

  Agricultural Business

  Development Scheme

  Crofting Building Grants and Loans Scheme

  Highlands and Islands Marketing Scheme

  Lowlands Marketing Scheme

  Farm Waste Grant scheme

  Farm Business Advice

  Flexible Fund for R & D

  Fisheries Research Services

  Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency

  Scottish Natural Heritage

  National Parks

  Scottish Environment Protection Agency

  Waste Initiatives

  Strategic Waste Fund

  Noise and Air Quality Action

  Water Environment

  Sustainable Action Fund

  Environmental Justice

  Committees, Information & Projects Research

  Scottish Water

  Private Water

  SUDS

  Hardship

  Water Publicity

  Grant iro Reporters

  Water & Sewerage Charges Reduction Scheme

  2005-06

  Environmentally Sensitive Areas Scheme

  Countryside Premium Scheme

  Organic Aid Scheme

  Rural Stewardship Scheme

  Farm Woodland Scheme

  Rural Partnership Scheme

  Farm Business Development Scheme

  Marketing Development Scheme

  Crofting Building Grants & loans Scheme

  Farm Waste Grant Scheme

  Farm Business Advice

  Flexible Fund for R & D

  SAC/SABRI Pensions

  Fisheries Research Services

  Fisheries Capital Grants

  Scottish Natural Heritage

  Scottish Environment Protection Agency

  Strategic Waste Fund

  Flood and Coast Protection

  Water Environment

  Sustainable Action Fund

  Committees, Information and Projects

  Scottish Water

  Private Water

  Water Industry Commission

  Transitional Reduction Scheme

  SS Sir Walter Scott

  Scottish Water G8 Costs

  2006-07

  Less Favoured Areas Support Scheme

  Environmentally Sensitive Areas Scheme

  Countryside Premium Scheme

  Rural Stewardship Scheme

  Land Management Contracts

  Rural Partnership Scheme

  Agricultural Business Development Scheme

  Marketing Development Scheme

  Crofting Building Grants & loans Scheme

  Highland & Islands Marketing Scheme

  Lowlands Marketing scheme

  Farm Waste Grant Scheme

  Farm Business Advice

  Scottish Fisheries protection Agency

  Scottish Environment Protection Agency

  Waste Initiatives

  Keep Scotland Beautiful

  Strategic Waste Fund

  Flood and Coast Protection

  Noise and Air Quality Action

  Water Environment

  Sustainable Action Fund

  Committees, Information and Projects

  Environmental Justice

  Scottish Water

  Private Water

  Drinking Water Quality Regulator

  Water Industry Commission

  Transitional Reduction Scheme

  Water Publicity.

Scottish Executive Finance

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-1357 by Richard Lochhead on 23 July 2007, how end-year flexibility was allocated between budget heads at level 3 in (a) 2004-05, (b) 2005-06 and (c) 2006-07.

Richard Lochhead: It is not possible to say how end-year flexibility was allocated between budget heads in 2004-05. The underspend was £39 million but utilising resources held in the CUP (Central Unallocated Provision) a total of £73.6 million was allocated. No end-year flexibility was drawn down by the Environment and Rural Affairs Department in 2005-06 or 2006-07. The end-year flexibility returned to the department in these years was deposited in the CUP.

Scottish Executive Finance

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-1357 by Richard Lochhead on 23 July 2007, what the difference is between centrally unallocated provision and the Central Contingency Fund.

Richard Lochhead: Central Unallocated Provision (CUP) is a mechanism which was introduced to allow departments to hold aside provision centrally, within a Spending Review period, to meet commitments in future years, enabling them to ensure that voted budgets were taut and realistic. The central contingency is for unavoidable expenditure such as the consequences of the Napier judgement. In future there will be no central contingency as all funds held centrally have been allocated as part of the next Spending Review.

Scottish Government Funding

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding will be provided for the Scottish Co-investment Fund in each year of the 2007-10 spending review.

Jim Mather: The original resources for the Scottish Co-investment Fund were £20 million with additional ERDF of £25 million. To date the fund has spent in excess of £30 million leveraging £72.5 million from the private sector.

  Future funding for this initiative is under consideration.

Scottish Water

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the original PFI contract for the Seafield sewage treatment works stated that workers’ pensions should be maintained or improved in the event of any change in contractor and, if so, whether those conditions apply for the lifetime of the 30-year contract.

Stewart Stevenson: This is an operational matter for Scottish Water and the PFI contractors, and I have asked the Acting Chief Executive of Scottish Water to reply to you.

Sexual Health

Ian McKee (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what its policy is with regard to the incidence of unplanned teenage pregnancies.

Shona Robison: Respect and Responsibility, Scotland’s national sexual health strategy, sets out the government’s commitment to reducing the number of unintended teenage pregnancies.

  The strategy, through increasing the provision of services and the level of sex and relationships education for young people and parents, is on track to meet the national teenage pregnancy targets.

Single Outcome Agreements

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-6655 by John Swinney on 12 December 2007, whether the inclusion of a representative from Audit Scotland on the group to oversee the implementation of single outcome agreements is compatible with the independent auditing role of Audit Scotland.

John Swinney: Audit Scotland has a statutory responsibility to audit the performance of public bodies on behalf of the Auditor General and the Accounts Commission. Audit Scotland’s role on the group is to assist in ensuring that single outcome agreements are underpinned by robust monitoring and performance reporting arrangements.

Sportscotland

Mr Frank McAveety (Glasgow Shettleston) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the Minister for Communities and Sport’s ministerial statement on the future of sportscotland on 9 January 2008, what the proposed timescale is for the relocation of sportscotland’s headquarters to Glasgow and, if the relocation is to occur before the completion of the National Indoor Sports Arena, what provision of services will be made in the interim.

Stewart Maxwell: It is intended to initiate this move as soon as possible. The new organisation will be expected to identify a temporary location in Glasgow, until it moves to the site of the new indoor arena. This is likely to be in 2011.

  These moves will be managed so that disruption to the provision of services is kept to a minimum.

Student Finance

Christina McKelvie (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide details of any changes to the rates of student support for further and higher education students that will apply for academic year 2008-09.

Fiona Hyslop: I am delighted to announce the new rates of support for students in further and higher education for academic year 2008-09. I am today placing in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre details of the rates of those loans, bursaries and grants, which will be available to eligible undergraduate and postgraduate students in full-time higher education.

  A general uprating factor of 2.5%, in line with inflation, will be applied to the existing schemes of support in 2008-09, thus maintaining their value in real terms.

  The Scottish Funding Council (SFC) has also agreed to maintain the alignment between the further and higher education sectors by, where appropriate, uprating the support available to further education students by 2.5%.

  A copy of these rates is also being placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (44263).

Teachers

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what impact its concordat with COSLA will have on teacher numbers.

Fiona Hyslop: The terms of the concordat and the local government finance settlement will allow local authorities to broadly retain teacher numbers at current levels.

Teachers

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether its local government funding settlement will lead to redundancies among teachers.

Fiona Hyslop: The staffing of schools is a matter for individual local authorities but the terms of the concordat and the local government finance settlement will allow local authorities to broadly retain teacher numbers at current levels.

Teachers

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether its targets for efficiency savings in the public sector will lead to redundancies among teachers.

Fiona Hyslop: Provided a local authority signs a single outcome agreement with the Scottish Government they will be able to retain efficiency savings. The local government finance settlement provides sufficient funding for local authorities to broadly maintain current teacher numbers.

Teachers

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much it costs to train a primary school teacher.

Maureen Watt: Primary school teachers gain a teaching qualification by completing either a one year Post Graduate Certificate of Education course or a four year Bachelor of Education degree. At current prices, these courses would cost £6,640 or £26,250 respectively.

  The Scottish Government also distributes £1.2 million annually to Scotland’s local authorities to assist in the co-ordination of student placements during these courses. This cannot be disaggregated on a per-student basis.

  All new teachers in Scotland are required to complete a period of probation before being awarded full registration as a teacher with the General Teaching Council for Scotland. During this time they will be employed by Scottish local authorities. The Scottish Government provides funding for 40 per cent of a probationers salary for every probationer teacher on the current induction scheme. For the 2007-08 scheme that equates to £9,300 per probationer teacher.

Transport

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding in the spending review will be allocated to developing transport projects in Grampian.

Stewart Stevenson: The spending plans set out in the Scottish Budget have not yet been approved by the Scottish Parliament. The draft Scottish Budget proposes the overall funding allocated for transport, but this has not been broken down for each local authority area.

Voluntary Organisations

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether ministerial approval is required before (a) Highlands and Islands Enterprise and (b) the Forestry Commission can dispose of assets at less than open market value to local voluntary, community-led organisations.

Jim Mather: Highlands and Islands Enterprise and the Forestry Commission Scotland are required to dispose of assets in accordance with the Scottish Public Finance Manual. This requires that parliamentary approval is sought for the disposal of land at below market value.

Waste Management

Hugh O'Donnell (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to replace the strategic waste fund.

Richard Lochhead: The Budget Announcement of 14 November 2007 outlined that allocations made through the Strategic Waste Fund are being transferred to the local government settlement. In addition, £154 million over three years has been retained by the Scottish Government to support zero waste initiatives.

Waste Management

Hugh O'Donnell (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive which organisation will be responsible for the oversight and distribution of any scheme introduced as a replacement of the strategic waste fund.

Richard Lochhead: The Budget Statement indicated that the Scottish Government will retain over £154 million over three years to assist implementation of the National Waste Plan and to provide support for bodies carrying out zero waste activities. These resources will be distributed by the Scottish Government, working closely with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities.

Waste Management

Hugh O'Donnell (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how much money from the strategic waste fund was distributed by each local authority, and to which organisations, in each of the last five years.

Richard Lochhead: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-7635 on 21 December 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at Questions & Answers Search .

Youth Courts

Nigel Don (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will make a decision about further youth courts.

Kenny MacAskill: The existing youth courts in Hamilton and Airdrie have operated successfully since 2003 and 2004 respectively. Following positive evaluation, funding has been continued to allow their position to be reviewed in spring 2009 in the light of the impact of the wider summary justice reforms. We have concluded that it would not be appropriate to commit to further youth courts at this stage but to reconsider the position in spring 2009 when the existing youth courts will be reviewed. This will provide opportunity in the interim period for a study to be commissioned to assess the effectiveness of youth courts in relation to achieved outcomes and specifically their impact on reconviction rates.